sought upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sought upon" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It seems to be a misinterpretation of "sought after" or "sought for," which are the correct expressions. Example: "The rare artifact was highly sought after by collectors around the world."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But the career Moynihan sought upon his return was in politics, not scholarship.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

If prior permission could not be obtained due to failures of communication, permission was sought immediately upon arrival.

BMC Public Health

They focused on the costs of screening, isolation and testing for antibiotic-resistant organisms after medical tourists sought treatment upon return home.

BMJ Open

Here we report a case in a person who became infected and sick during a trip to Liberia and sought care upon return to the United States.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

"Population security" was the big idea that Petraeus sought to communicate upon arrival in Iraq.

The New Yorker

The definitions of the war which our government has sought to impose upon the world have changed over the years.

The New Yorker

The forum sought to reflect upon the drivers behind the development agenda while considering how strategic cross-sectoral partnerships can ensure that giving is based on development needs.

The Guardian

Near the end of his testimony on Friday, Mr. Edwards sought to impress upon the jury that he could spend the rest of his life in jail.

The New York Times

The marketing effort sought to "impose upon the criminal a cost-benefit analysis with respect to the gun" to deter gun use, Mr. Comey said.

The New York Times

The only conclusion one can hazard is that like most other Islamist radicals, the actors sought to scavenge upon real and imaginary grievances of Muslims throughout the world.

The Guardian - Opinion

He also tips his hat to behavioral economics, which is of more recent vintage, and which has sought to build upon and expand some of Keynes's insights.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "sought upon" in formal writing. Instead, consider alternatives like "sought after", "built upon", or other contextually appropriate synonyms.

Common error

Be careful with preposition choices. The correct preposition to use with "sought" in most contexts is "after" or "for", not "upon". Using "upon" can make your writing sound unnatural and grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sought upon" functions as a verb phrase, where "sought" is the past participle of "seek" and "upon" is a preposition. However, according to Ludwig AI, this specific combination is generally considered incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sought upon" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and rarely used in contemporary English. According to Ludwig AI, it is a misinterpretation. While it may appear in some sources, it's advisable to opt for more common and grammatically sound alternatives like ""sought after"", ""sought for"", or "built upon" to ensure clarity and correctness in your writing. Pay close attention to preposition usage to avoid similar errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sought after

Changes the preposition to "after", indicating something is desired or pursued.

built upon

Specifically implies adding to or developing something already existing.

relied upon

Implies dependence or trust in something.

depended on

Synonymous with "relied upon", suggesting reliance.

based on

Indicates a foundation or starting point.

looked for

A more general term for searching or trying to find something.

searched for

Similar to "looked for", but may imply a more thorough or systematic search.

tried to find

Expresses the attempt to locate or discover something.

aimed to achieve

Focuses on the goal or outcome that was desired.

endeavored to obtain

Emphasizes the effort and intention to acquire something.

FAQs

What's a more appropriate alternative to "sought upon"?

The most suitable alternatives are usually "sought after" or "sought for", depending on the intended meaning. "Sought after" implies desirability, while "sought for" simply means looked for.

Is "sought upon" grammatically correct?

No, "sought upon" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, it is a misinterpretation of other similar expressions.

How can I use "sought after" correctly in a sentence?

Use "sought after" when referring to something or someone that is in demand or highly desired. For example: "Her expertise was highly "sought after" by many companies".

What does it mean to "build upon" something?

To "build upon" something means to use it as a foundation and expand or develop it further. For example: "The new research will build upon the findings of previous studies".